Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board welcomes our first cohort of overseas nurses

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB) were delighted to welcome the first cohort of overseas nurses to their induction to CTM today (May 26).  Eighteen nurses have arrived at CTMUHB so far and have placements in our Hospitals, with another 79 arriving with us by the end of the year. 

Karen Bryant-Davies, Senior Nurse, Nurse Education said: “The nurses are a huge asset to us here at the Health Board and to our population. Our Overseas Nursing Programme plays a huge part in enabling us to sustain the workforce we need to maintain our services. We are delighted to welcome them today.”

Nurse Education have always been involved in overseas nurse education and preparation, but this is the first time as part of an ‘All Wales’ project.

Ben Durham, Lead Nurse for Professional Practice added: “It’s really important that when Overseas Nurses join us that we ensure they are supported in every way.  They have travelled a long way and left their families, sometimes their children and partners, and we need to ensure as well as meeting their training needs that we support them with their personal needs too.”

Thirty-five year old Pavithra Aluru Pandurangaiah came from India in October 2019, leaving behind her 2 year old baby and her husband.  Pavithra said: “I had many mixed feelings when I left India. I was excited to be starting my nursing career but heartbroken to be leaving my baby, husband and family.  The Health board looked after me though and I don’t regret it.  I was also lucky that my family joined me three months after I arrived.  I am now part of the nurse assessor team, welcoming the new nurses to CTMUHB, a job which I really enjoy.”

We look forward to welcoming the next cohort of nurses to CTMUHB in the coming months!

You can view the Overseas Nurses Induction Day video below: